The political atmosphere in Ibadan North Federal Constituency is charged as parties intensify efforts to win over voters ahead of the upcoming by-election.
Out of seven political parties that held primaries monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State, only five candidates were cleared to contest the seat left vacant following the death of Prince Olaide Aderemi — popularly known as Jagaban — on July 10, 2024, at the age of 51, after a brief illness.
The cleared contestants are Akin-Alamu Dexter Femi (African Democratic Congress, ADC), Olatunji Haastrup Adewale a.k.a. Murphy (All Progressives Congress, APC), Odususi Olajumoke Olabisi (All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA), Oyekunle Fola a.k.a. The Don (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), and Hammed Badmus (Zenith Labour Party, ZLP).
While most party primaries were conducted without rancour, the APC’s candidate emergence was marred by agitation, protests, and allegations of coercion and imposition from some aspirants.
The party leadership, however, moved swiftly to address the grievances, reaffirming its determination to retain the seat.
Both the APC and PDP flagged off their campaign at the popular Bodija Market, Bodija but not much has been heard about the campaign of the other contestants.
Although the contest seem to be between the APC (Murphy) and PDP (Don), the other three candidates Akin-Alamu (ADC), Olabisi (APGA), and Badmus (ZLP) may not be outright write off.
While the APC candidate, Murphy is banking on the power that the seat was initially occupied by the party and backed up by support from the Miniater of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the PDP candidate is riding on the support of Govenror Seyi Makinde who singlehandedly nominated him after pulling him out as his former Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS).
All the parties have embarked on aggressive door-to-door campaign across markets and locations covered by the Federal Constituency.
However, a new twist was on Wednesday added to the campaign when Governor Makinde flagged of the construction of a need Government Reservation Area (GRA), in Samonda and named after the late APC Federal Lawmaker, Olaide Akinremi.
Although, the APC described the political move as a mockery of the deceased lawmaker and an attempt to use the name of the late APC member to cover up some allegations of land grabbing, the governor has said naming the new GRA after the latevlawmaker was in appreciation of the contribution of the deceased.
The event was attended by some key APC leaders, family, supporters and political associates of the late HoR member.
However, observers have described the timing and the naming as a political strategy that is capacity of weaking the APC structure and limit the chances of the party in the forthcoming election.
Ibadan North remains one of the largest single local government constituencies in the state with 512 Polling Units with 272, 196 registered voters. No fewer than 217, 980 residents who have so far collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are expected to participate in the upcoming Bye-election.
According to INEC, the election will be conducted across 12 Registration Areas/Wards and would affect borders areas including: Sango/Eleyele/Apete/Ijokodo, Beere/Oje/Odoye, Mokola Axis/Adamasingba Axis, UI/Agbowo/Agbowo Express and Gate/Basorun/Ashi.
The areas where restrictions of movement are expected include: Ward I (Islamic Mission Primary School, Odoye) Ward II (St Stephen Primary School, Inalende), Ward III (Salvation Army Primary School Yemetu), Ward IV (Methodist Primary School, NTA), Ward V (Ikolaba High School, Ikolaba), Ward VI (St Gabriel Grammar School, Mokola), Ward VII (St Louis Grammar School, Mokola), Ward VIll (Chesire High School, Ijokodo), Ward IX (C&S New Eden Primary School, Mokola), Ward X (Immanuel College Primary School, Samonda) and Ward XII which is (Methodist Primary School, Bodija) respectively.
